MAYVILLE SCOOPS AWARDS AT ROCK CHALLENGE FINAL
Mayville raised the roof with its dramatic, global recession, gloom busting performance in the Rock Challenge finals at Portsmouth Guildhall.
To shouts and roars of approval from the audience, one hundred and ten pupils from years 7-10 dazzled in “Combat the Gloom”, which centres on Indiana Jones, who saves the day.
In a piece inspired by the global recession, and international disputes, judges praised Mayville, and said it did everything a Rock Challenge piece should do.
The school scooped four awards, The Janome Award for best costume design; the Hampshire Healthy Schools award for best set design; the Hampshire Constabulary Award for concept originality; and the Be Your Best Foundation award for best stage crew.
The back stage crew were faultless, scoring an incredible one hundred per cent for their efforts on the night.
The evening saw Mayville placed fifth in the B final. Twenty four schools from Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Sussex, Dorset, Kent, Berkshire and Hertfordshire took part in the finals over two nights.
Lorraine Hepburn Head of Drama said “Mayville did wonderfully well. I’m very proud of them all.”
The extravaganza, which saw mummies, skeletons, nimbus and Egyptian handmaidens taking to the stage, was innovative, fast moving, funny, and above all entertaining.
Harry Murr Year 9, played Indiana Jones and was one of the student reps, together with Emily Castleton year 9, and Toby Palmer and Emily McKee, both Year 8.
Jennifer Bristow, Sheridan Little, Shaun Jackson, and Nick Coles were heavily involved with preparing and making the scenery.
Parents, including Mrs Hunter and Mrs Fawcett helped with the costumes. This is Mrs Hunter’s last year of Rock Challenge, after being involved for many years., and for this Lorraine Hepburn said, “She deserves a massive thank you”.
Mayville has taken part in the competition since it first started in 1996, and was in the premiership for many years making it amongst the top 12 performers in the country.
Lorraine said “We applaud the whole Rock Challenge ethos because it’s such a marvellous chance to teach messages that are important to children these days”.
